Nuts and Bolts! Four Centuries of Technical Preservation Issues in New York City Buildings

Grace Church before the addition of Catherine Lorillard Wolfe’s chantry in the south lawn — photo NYPL Collection

HDC Continuing Education Series:

Nuts and Bolts! Four Centuries of Technical Preservation Issues in New York City Buildings

17th – 21st Century Case Studies

This course will examine restoration projects on buildings ranging from the 17th to the 20th century, looking at specific structures to represent the construction methods of each particular period. Presenters, including two architects, an engineer and an architectural conservator will give in-depth presentations on all aspects of a building renovation and restoration including sensitive engineering methods, materials conservation, facade maintenance, structural stability and methodologies. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how materials, construction systems and techniques have evolved over three centuries and the proper approach to deal with different challenges.

Edmund P Meade, Principal at Robert Silman Associates, P.C.
Mr. Meade is a Structural Engineer; much of his personal practice is in the area of Preservation Engineering (i.e., structural engineering applied to existing/ historic buildings). He has managed many large preservation engineering projects ranging from structural repairs at the Guggenheim Museum, Ellis Island, Carnegie Hall, and the New Jersey State House Dome. He is currently working on the structural stabilization and preservation of Iglesia San Jose, a five hundred year old church in Puerto Rico. His work has included use of advanced nondestructive evaluation techniques, sustainable design, innovative monitoring techniques and leading-edge structural analysis. Mr. Meade has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Architectural History & Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia. Mr. Meade is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Drew University and Fellow of the Association for Preservation Technology International. Mr. Meade is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Richard W. Southwick, FAIA, LEED AP Director of Historic Preservation at Beyer Blinder Belle
Mr. Southwick is an expert in the sensitive upgrading of older buildings and their sustainable reuse and has been involved in the restoration of many of New York’s signature buildings including Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum; New York City Hall, TWA Terminal at JFK Airport, Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden; Apollo Theatre, and The Morgan Library & Museum expansion with Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Other notable projects include Red Star Line Museum of Migration in Antwerp, Belgium; National Trust for Historic Preservation Headquarters and US Capitol, in Washington, DC; Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Facility, Queens; Manhattan School of Music Recital and Residence Hall; and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Josie Robertson plaza. He is the author of the historic preservation section of the book Construction in Cities: Social, Environmental, Political, and Economic Concerns. A graduate of SUNY Albany (B.A.) and Columbia University (M.Arch., Kinne Fellowship), he has been an adjunct professor at the NJIT School of Architecture and is a board member of Preservation New Jersey and the New York City Historic House Trust.

Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC, Founding Principal
Mr. Melvin started as a private practice in 1975 which has expanded to over 30 employees with three partners. The office specializes in restoration, rehabilitation and maintenance of historic and building envelopes, and now oversees major projects across New York City and the surrounding area. Over the years, long-term relationships with many historic urban buildings have been cultivated, and the firm now works with a number of complex historic institutional structures such as Grace Church in New York City, the General Theological Seminary, the Frick Collection and the Cloisters Metropolitan Museum Medieval Collection. Walter B. Melvin has been instrumental in the development of restoration techniques particular to historic buildings in New York City. His focus continues to be exterior masonry and concrete repairs, with a special interest in the preservation of architectural terra cotta. Over the years, he has generated numerous original waterproofing details for existing masonry facades and many anchorage systems to enable the reuse of terra cotta elements. Mr. Melvin emphasizes retaining as much as possible of the original building fabric, while ensuring long term solutions to building concerns. In addition to overseeing material repairs and conservation, he assists building managers with long-term planning, prioritization, and budget development. His firm has performed architectural survey, inspection and restoration projects, including exterior masonry, roofing, terrace, and window restoration at over 1000 buildings in the tri-state metropolitan area.

Mary Jablonski, Jablonski Building Conservation Inc. Founding Principal / Conservator
Ms. Jablonski has a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University’s Historic Preservation Program. For five years Mary worked at a structural engineering firm that specialized in the restoration of historic structures. The focus of her current work includes: historic structure reports; historic material investigations; compliance with landmarks regulations; development of technical treatment specifications. Mary has special interests in finishes and modern materials. Ms. Jablonski is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC). She is a past Chair of the Architecture Specialty of Group of the AIC. Mary previously served on the board of APTNE and as an ex-officio Board Member of US ICOMOS. Currently Mary is the co-chair of the APT2013 Committee and is assisting with the 5th International Paint conference to be held in 2014. Mary teaches advanced graduate level courses at Columbia University School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation program.

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